Method and apparatus for making beverages



March 16, 1948 J; F. TIM-BERLAKE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES Filed Feb. 10, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w qu@ March 16, 1948. J. F. TIMBERLAKE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES Filed Feb. 10,1'944 s 7 t m m 4am 2 e e n E SS E G3 A R E V E B Em m IAM. Mnl MR, Eww B. s TAF R /Q .AMW FWl Aw D N A D o H T E M Patented Mar. 16, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKEN' G BEVERAGES 8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a process and means for making beverages, and has for one of its prime v objects the provision of a method and apparatus for economically producing more delectable coiee beverages.

Another object of this invention is to provide a process for making coiee beverages wherein the coffee is mixed with water and the mixture is then agitated and beaten in order to extract coffee compounds therefrom.

A still further object of this invention is to pro- Vide apparatus for making coiee beverages, the apparatus having means for mixing water with coiee and means for agitating and beating the mixture in order to obtain coiee extracts.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following specification when read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view partly in elevation, taken on the line I-I of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 2 is an elevational view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on the line I I of Figure 2, showing details of cleaning apparatus.

Figure 5 is a top plan View taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4 with the cleaning apparatus secured in place.

Referring now more speciiically to the drawings the reference numeral I0 indicates, in general, a coffee making device provided with a cy-v lindrical water receptacle having the side wall I2 and a lower end closure member I 4. A removable upper end closure member I6 is adapted to be seated in a radially outwardly extending lip or shoulder portion I8 formed on the upper end of the Wall I2.

An aperture 20 is formed in the lower end closure member I4, the center of which is positioned on the longitudinal axis of the receptacle I2. A supporting coupling 22 engages the aperture 20 and extends upwardly therefrom. The coupling 22 is held in water tight engagement with the aperture 20 by means of the lock nut 24 which threadedly engages a threaded lower projecting portion of the coupling 22.

A second cylindrical receptacle 26 is provided with an end closure wal128 which is also provided with a centrally disposed aperture 30 through which a coupling unit 32 depends. The coupling 32 is held in water tight engagement with the aperture 8B by means of the lock nut 34.

The upper end of the coupling 22 and the lower end of the coupling 32 are each provided with radially outwardly extending anges 36 and 38, respectively. These anges are provided with complementary water tight locking means (not shown) in order to releasably secure and support the receptacle 26 on the coupling 22 within the outer cylinder I2.

Brackets 48 are xedly secured to the inner surface of the cylindrical wall I2 at spaced intervals around its periphery and project radially inwardly therefrom. The brackets 40 are adapted to hold the receptacle 26 in spaced relation with respect to the wall I2.

A spacing ring 42 is disposed intermediate the inner wall of the coupling 22 and engages the outer surface of a pipe 44. As will be seen from Figure 1, the pipe 44 extends upwardly from the end 'wall 28 to a point below the upper end of the wall 26 and also projects downwardly to a point below the lower end of the coupling 22.

A substantially bow1-shaped coiee container 46 is provided with perforations 48 and an inner detachable strainer cloth 50. The cloth 50 acts as a lter unit and, of course, may be constructed of any suitable material.

The container 4B has an aperture formed in the lowermost end portion thereof through which is extended the coupling 52. The coupling projects for a short distance below the base of the container 46 and is rigidly secured at its upper end by the lock ring 54. The inner diameter of the coupling 52 gradually decreases from the lower end thereof to its upper end in order to provide a tapering inner wall. As seen from Figure 1, the coupling 52 slidingly engages the upper end of the pipe 44 and supports the container in elevated position after the tapered inner surface of the coupling 52 has engaged the outer surface of the pipe 44 in a watertight junction.

The lower end of the pipe 44 is provided with a reducing plug through which extends a pipe 58. The pipe 53 projects upwardly through the pipe 44 and is coaxial therewith and is held in spaced relationship with respect to pipe 44 by the plug 5'5. The upper end of the pipe 58 is threaded in order to engage the threaded cap Sal which is rigidly secured to the inverted conically-shaped beating element $2 by means of the radially extending arms B4.

The lower end of the pipe 58 is secured to the outlet port of any suitable pumping unit 68. The pump 63 may be driven by an electric motor (not shown) through a belt connection with the pulley 10.

The inlet port I2 is connected by a suitable conduit 'I4 which extends downwardly within a sump i6 which is also provided with a coupling 'i8 to which one end of the conduit 80 is connected. The other end of the conduit 80 is connected with the interior of the pipe 44 adjacent the lower end thereof through the screw-threaded junction 82. A second screw-threaded junction 84 is provided on the lower end of the pipe 44 and is adapted to receive one end of a conduit 86, the other end of which projects through a suitable opening formed in the side wall I2 at a point 88 adjacent the end closure member I4. A hand operated valve 90 is disposed intermediate the ends of the pipe 8G.

The water receptacle i is provided with a supporting skirt 90 in order to provide space for a gas heating unit 92 connected by the conduit 94 to a control valve 96 which is in turn connected with a suitable fuel supply by the conduit 98.

A faucet or tap |00 provided with a manually operated valve |02 is rigidly mounted on the exterior of the wall I2 and is connected with the interior of the receptacle 26 by the pipe |04 and the channel |06.

The faucet I00-is also provided with a mounting |08 for a iiuid gauge glass I I0 which is vented to the atmosphere at II2 and supported at its upper end by the bracket I I4, the gauge indicating the height of the fluid contents within the receptacle 26.

The operation of the device is as follows:

rIhe valve 90 is turned to its closed position and the operator then removes the cover I6 and fills the receptacle I0 with water. (If desired an inlet can be cut into the side wall of the container I0 in order to facilitate the introduction of the water.)

When the receptacle I0 is filled, fuel from the burner 92 is ignited and the water begins to heat. During the heating period a denite proportion of coffee is measured out and placed in the container 4G.

Assuming the water has been brought to a temperature of 180-185" F., a temperature criteria found to yield the best results, the valve 90 is opened and the hot water is conducted to the inlet 'I2 of the pump 68 through the conduits 86. 44, 80, the sump 1S, and conduit 14.

The operator then actuates the pump 68 thereby forcing the water upwardly through the pipe 58 with suiicient pressure to cause it to impinge against the baie plate 62.

After striking the plate 62 the water falls on the coffee disposed in the perforated container 46 in sufficient volume to cause a portion of the water to wash some of the coffee downwardly through the pipe 44 and return to the sump 16 through the conduit 80. A portion of the water falling on the coffee in the container 46 passes through the filter 50, the perforations 48 into the container 26. The tap |00 being connected to the container 26 through the pipe |04 and passage |06 is adapted to be operated at will in order to draw olf the finished coffee.

The coffee which has been carried into the sump is drawn up with the hot water through the pipe 'I4 and into the pump 68. The entrained coffee is then discharged against the baille plate G2 from the pipe 58. The impinging i of the coffee against the plate extracts the various coffee compounds therefrom and these compounds then lter through the coffee remaining on the container 40 and the filter E0 and fall into the receptacle 28.

As this operation is repeated the coffee is continuously kept in circulation and the continued agitation thereof produced by impinging against the baille plate While entrained in the hot water produces a filtered coffee beverage of an exquisite flavor.

A modification of this invention is also illustrated in Figure 1; If desired a perforated coneshaped element I I5 may be supported on the container 46. This element is slidably mounted on the pipe 53 at the apex thereof and is provided with a plurality of perforations H3 and elongated horizontal slots |20.

When using the element IIS coffee is disposed between the exterior surface thereof and the container 40. Part of the hot water passing through the coffee from the baille plate G2 washes the coffee through the slots |25 downwardly into the pipe 44, while still another portion passes through the perforations I I8, the remainder seeping through the coffee and passing into the Acontainer 26 through the perforations 48. The operation of the apparatus in all other respects is identical to that described above.

Experimentation has determined that anexcellent coffee beverage results from the use of the above described apparatus and process when using only one-third the amount of coee normally used for producing the same amount of beverage.

A still further advantage of apparatus of the type described resides in the fact that the filter 50 may be easily cleaned without requiring that it be handled.` To carry out the cleaning step the sump 'I6 is emptied of its contents and reconnected to the pipes f4 and 80. The baille plate 62 is removed and a hose connected to the upper end of the pipe 53. The valve is opened and the pump 63 actuated. This results in the pumping of a clear stream of water from the receptacle 2 6 through the hose element which is then operated to wash down the coffee grounds'adh'ering to the element 50 (and/or the conical element IIG). The cleansing completed, the pump 68 is rendered ineffective, the hose disconnected from the pipe 58 and the baffle plate 62 is again releasably secured thereto, the valve 50 is closed and the sump 'I6 is again emptied and returned to its proper position.

The cleaning process may be modified if the apparatus shown and described in Figures 4 and 5 is employed. As illustrated therein, the baille plate 62 is removed from the upper threaded end of the pipe 58. If the conical member IIS has been used during the making of the coffee beverage then it must also be removed by'sliding it over the end of the pipe 53. After removing these parts a substantially circular container |28 having a side wall |30 and a perforated base |32 is disposed within the container 46 and is supported therein by the radially outwardly extending flange portion |34- which is adapted to engage the upper end of the wall of container 46. A centrally disposed hollow stem I 36 projects upwardly from the base |32 and is adapted to be slide over the top portion of the pipe 58, the two elements being held in substantially coaxial alignment by the engagement of the flange portion |34 with the upper end of the container 46.

To clean the coffee making apparatus a hose has one of its ends secured to the threaded upper end of the pipe 58 and the pump is actuated. The coffee grounds entrained in the iiuid is pumped upwardly through the pipe 58 and through the hose member, the other end of which is directed downwardly in such a manner as to cause the mixture to flow into the container 28. The coee grounds are caught by the container 28 while the huid passes through the perforated base 32 to wash downwardly into the conduit dC- other coffee grounds which may be adhering to the upper surface or the filter 59. As soon as the discharge end of the hose member discharges fluid clear oi coffee grounds the pump is stopped, the hose disconnected from the pipe 50, and the container |23 is removed from the apparatus. The bafiie plate 62 and the conical member H6 are then replaced in their respective positions.

I claim:

1. In a device of the type described, a water container, a coffee solution container, a funnel shaped lter adapted to support ground coifee and having a discharge oriice, a barile plate positioned above said lter, a fluid pump, means connecting said pump to receive water from said water container, means for directing the output oi said pump forcefully against said baiile for distribution to said lter, means connecting said pump to receive uids passing through said lter oriiice, said filter being adapted to pass to said coffee soiution container a portion or" the fluids received thereby and to cause a portion of the water received thereby to wash a portion of the ground coffee on said filter into said discharge orifice, and means connecting said pump to receive the water and ground coffee passing into said filter orifice, whereby a continuous circulation of water and entrained grounds takes place from said iilter to said pump, then to said baffle, and back to said lter.

2. A coffee maker comprising. an outer water container, an inner coffee solution container spaced from said outer container, a funnel shaped ground coee supporting lter within said inner container, said filter having a discharge conduit extending through adjacent walls of said containers to the exterior of said outer container, a second conduit within and spaced from said discharge conduit and having an eX- ternal opening outside of said discharge conduit, a baiiie mounted in proximity to one end of said second conduit for directing fluids from said conduit onto said filter, a fluid pump, means connecting the outer end of said discharge conduit to the intake of said pump, means for passing the discharge of said pump into the external opening of said second conduit, and means for conducting water from said outer container to said connecting means, whereby a portion of the water transmitted to said filter by way of said second conduit and said 'baiie passes through said filter and into said coifee solution container, and a portion of said water runs into said discharge conduit carrying with it a portion of the ground coffee supported by said filter, said last mentioned water portion and the ground coffee carried therewith being then recirculated by said pump.

3. A coffee lmaker as set forth in claim 2 in which are provided an extension of said inner container of greater diameter than said dis charge conduit at the point Where said discharge conduit passes through a wall of said inner container, and coffee solution dispensing means opening into said extension.

4. A coffee maker as set forth in claim 2 in which a cone shaped element is mounted about the end of said second conduit to receive uids and groups from said baie, said element having openings therein permitting the passage of liquids only and other openings permitting the passage of both liquids and ground coiee, whereby the liquids passing through said first mentioned openings and the liquids and grounds passing through said other openings pass to said discharge conduit, while the remainder of the fluids pass through said lter and into said coffee solution container.

5. A process of making a coffee beverage comprising the steps of passing water into contact with ground coffee so that one portion of the Water passes through said ground coffee while another portion of the water entrains with it a portion of said ground coiee, and recirculating said second named portion with the entrained ground coffee into contact with the remainder of the ground coffee.

6. A process of making a coffee beverage as set forth in claim 5 in which said recirculation is accompanied by forceful deection of said second named portion of water and entrained coffee into contact with the remainder of the ground coffee.

7. A process as defined in claim 5 in which additional water is added to said second named water portion durin-g said recirculation.

8. A process as dened in claim 5 in which the water utilized is maintained at a temperature of -l85 F.

JOURNEY FRANKLIN TILEBERLAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS liiumber Name Date 120,417 Craggs Oct. 31, 1871 227,805 Mathes May 18, 1880 429,139 Malen June 3, 1890 674,456 Darden May 21, 1901 1,137,265 Hubner Apr. 27, 1915 1,226,005 Rathman May 15, 1917 1,300,175 Kittinger Apr. 8, 1919 1,469,139 Acquaviva Sept. 25, 1923 1,710,218 Kelly Apr. 23, 1929 1,762,209 Aborn June 10, 1930 1,789,334 Englung Jan. 20, 1931 1,984,047 Thieme Dec. 11, 1934 2,356,784 Graham Aug. 29, 1944 

